Packer for pumps



.April 28, 1925.

J. D. WADE l PACKER FOR PUMPS Original Filed May 1l, 1925 #WIW aucun I Lilli llatented ntiipr. 28, 1925.

Nrrao STATES JAMES D. WADE, OF GNZALES, TEXAS.

TNT

PACKER FOR PUMPS.

Application led May 11, 1923, Serial N'o. 638,255.

which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in packers to be used on pumps of the type disclosed in my co-pendingl application for patent, Serial Number 622,072, filed March M lst, 1923 on the method of and apparatus for pumping wells. In this system of pumping the upper end of the pump barrel is sealed against the inner wall of the casing at the lower end of the well, and no tubing is used, the plunger being lowered into the upper end of the pump barrel'thus sealed to the casing, and the caslng itself acting to furnish an outlet for the oil in the same marmer that the tubing does in the usual method of pumping. I

It is an object of my invention to provide a seal or packer for the upper end of the pump barrel, adapted to close the space between the upper end of the pump barrel and the liner and casing, so that no leakage of tluid will result.

Another object is to provide a packer of this type which may be easily expanded and which will remain in contracted positlon until the setting of the device is desired.

Another object is to provide an additional seal between the packer and the pump barrel which will prevent the passage of fluid and to also provide an outlet for gas under pres- 40 sure, so as not to interfere` with the operation of the pump.

Further objects and advantages, and the means by which these objects are carried out,'

will be set forth with greater clearness in the specification which follows:

Referring to the drawing herewith, wherein like numerals are applied to like parts in all the views, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the upper end of the pump barrel, showing my packer before the same has been expanded; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the packer in expanded position and Fig. 3 is a broken detail showing a central section through the gas valve ernployed with my invention.

Renewed March 10, 1925.

In the use of my device it is customary to drill down to the pay stratum, to form a full-sized hole above the pay, and to then set the casing to support the walls -of the well above the pay stratum, and to seal oni the entrance of fluid to the well. The pay stratum yis then drilled into with a bit of smaller-diameter, and a liner is set in the smaller hole thus drilled; this liner having a screen attached thereto, or being perfo- 11i ratedto allow entrance of fluid.

In the drawlng the casing is represented by the numeral l and the liner 2 extends upwardly into the casing for a short dista-nce. In sealing the space between the liner and casing I set my packer by dropping it into the well until it comes in contact with the upper end of the liner. I employ a mandrel 3, the upper end of which is cylindrical, and the central portion of which is tapered inwardly from the upper portion toward the lower end, as shown at 4. The lower end of the mandrel 5 is cylindrical for a short distance. to provide a seat for a cylindrical ring 6. This ring is slidable for a limited space on the mandrel and is held normally in position at the lower end by means of pins 7, which extend through the ring -and mto the mandrel for a short distance'. These pins are of frangible material, easily sheared off when a blow is delivered against the rin 6.

Above the ring 6, and fitting upon the tapered portion 4 of the mandrel is a packer sleeve 8, which may be made of any compressible material, but which I contemplate forming of soft metal, such as lead. This packing sleeve is cylindrical on the outer surface, and it will be noted that the upper cylindrical end 3 of the mandrel, the outer surface of the packer, and the ring 6, together provide a cylindrical surface which iits :loosely the interior of the casing.

' The upper end of the mandrel is beveled inwardly at 9 and the said beveled surface is out by a plurality of serrations l0 extending around the upper end of the mandrel and furnishing a seat for a lead .packing ring which will be presently described.

The pump barrel ll is of comparatively small diameter and fits loosely through the central passage l2 in the mandrel. At its upper end it is secured by means of a collar l2 to' the lower end of the nipple I3. This nipple is of the same diameter as the worke ing barrel at its lower end, and is swedged outwardly at 14 to form a guide barrel 15 of larger dlameter to receive Iand guide the plunger into the working barrel. The walls at the upper end of the guide barrel are thickened at 16 so as to loosely lit within the casing. The lower shoulder 17 provided by the thickening of the walls is formed with an annular mortice 18 therein to provide attachment for a packing ring 19 which I contemplate forming of lead or some composition of soft metal which may be compressible. The outer wall of the guide barrel 15 is serrated at 2O to further support the packing ring 19. This packing ring is tapered on its lower surface at 21 to fit within the beveled seat 9 provided in the upper end of the mandrel 3. The inner upper end of the guide barrel is enlarged and threaded at 22 to provide attachment for a setting tool or drill stem, not shown.

The tapered or swedged portion 14 in the nipple 13 is provided with an opening 23 therein, which is threaded to receive a valve chamber 24, the inner end of which is formed into a tapered seat 25 for a valve 26, held resiliently in its seat by means of a sp-ring 27. It will be noted that this valve is 3 adapted to open inwardly to allow the entrance of gas under pressure to the pump barrel. The upper end of the passage through 15 may be recessed slightly -to seat a sleeve 28, normally covering openings 29. This sleeve forms a valve which may be raised by means of a spear or other tool to allow the iuid inside the casing to run back when the pum barrel is to be withdrawn.

In the operat1on of my device, the packing sleeve comprising the mandrel and the ring 6, as assem led in the manner shown in Fig. 1, is dropped downwardly into the upper end 'of the casing. It is contemplated that this packer will drop with some velocity, so that when the ring 6 contacts with the upper end of the liner 2 it will have suliicient force to break the frangible pins 7 and force the ring upwardly on the mandrel so as to expand the packing sleeve 8, in an obvious manner.

The pump barrel is then assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, upon the lower end of the nipple 13, and is lowered at the end of a setting tool or drill stem to its position in the bottom of the well. It is contemplated that it will be lowered with some force so as to drive the lower tapered face of the ring 21 into the serrated seat formed at 10 on the upper end of the mandrel. This will serve, in an obvious manner, to compress the lead ring into the serrations on the seat and form a tight lit, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, if the packer has not been proper.

ly expanded, it will serve to further compress the packer and seal olf the space y around the upper end of the liner. The

parts2 will then be in position shown in Jv`1g.

It will be noted that there will be no outlet for fluid outside of the liner and around the lower end df the casing. The pump plunger may then be lowered down into the well, passing through the guide barrel 15 into the pump barrel, where it may be operated in the usual manner. The valve 26 will allow gas under pressure within, the space around the nipple to escape into' the casing above the plunger and will thus not interfere with the action of the tool. Furthermore, it will prevent back pressure of gas against the strata, in sufiicient amount to pre-vent the inflow of oil.

It will be noted thatthe device thus provided is easily and accurately operated, and formed to provide an accurate and durable seal so that the pump may be operatedy for long periods of time without interruption. If, however, it is necessary to withdraw the pump barrel for any purpose, this may be done by engaging the setting tool in the upper end of the socket 22, and by use of a jar the parts may be separated and withdrawn from the well. i

Having thus described my invention, the further objects and advantages of which will be apparent to one skilled in theart, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: f

1. A packer for pumps comprising a downwardly tapered hollow mandrel, a ring slidable thereon, means to normally secure said ring to said mandrel, a packing sleeve of ductile metal above said ring, a tapered seat at the upper end of said mandrel, a pump barrel, a nipple at the upperend thereof, and a shoulder of soft metal onfsaid nipple shaped to fit said tapered seat for the purpose described.

2. In a pump, a casing, a liner projecting into the lower end of sald casing, a mandrel having a downwardly tapered surface thereon, a cylindrical portion below said tapered surface, a ring slidable thereon, frangible means to retain said ring on said lower' end and a asking sleeve of compressiblefmaterial a ove said ring adapted to be forced upwardly and expanded when said ring is advanced upwardly on said mandrel by contact with said liner.

3. In a pump, a casing, a liner projecting upwardly into the lower end of said casing in combination with a packer comprising a downwardly-tapered hollow mandrel, a sleeve= of dcom ressible material thereon, means below said sleeve adapted to support said sleeve, whereby said mandrel may be forced downwardly therein by gravity to expand said sleeve, a tapered seat in said mandrel, a pump barrel and means secured to said pump barrel adapted to it within said seat and form a closed seal therewith.

4 In a pump, a casing and liner, means to seal the space between said casing and liner, including a hollow mandrel, a tapered seat in the upper end thereof, a pump barrel, a nipple thereon, an enlarged head on said nipple and a tapered lower shoulder of compressible metal on said head shaped to fit within said seat.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing, a liner, means to seal the space between said casing and liner including a hollow mandrel, a tapered seat in the upper end of said mandrel having annular grooves therein, a pump barrel in said liner and a nipple on the upper end of said pump barrel having a lower tapered' shoulder shaped to fit in sai-d tapered seat and a ring of soft metal on said shoulder adapted to be compressed into said grooves. p 6. In a device of the character described, a casing, a packer adjacent the lower end thereof including a hollow mandrel, a packing sleeve thereon, a tapered seat in the upper end of said mandrel, a pump barrel extending freely through said mandrel, a nipple on said barrel enlarged above the lower end, and a shoulder on said nipple having a soft metal facing thereon adapted to fit within said p seat and make a tight closure therewith.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto alx my signature this 7th day of May, A. D. 1923. JAMES D. WADE. 

